Synergy – The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual.

Despite a remarkable points haul this season, it is likely that Los Merengues will end the season trophyless. Early indications are that this will result in a further round of spending from Florentino Perez as he searches for the players that will bring them the success their great rivals in Catalonia are currently enjoying. David Silva in? Karim Benzema out? And thats just on the playing side. A new coach also seems inevitable with Pellegrini being regarded as a dead man walking since the Lyon defeat.. arguably before. Benitez? Scolari? Mourinho? The world waits.

However, Perez does not have to look too far for evidence that his club’s policy is fatally flawed:

This season’s Champions League has seen Internazionale and Bayern enjoy rather more success than anticipated, toppling Chelsea and Man Utd respectively. The two English clubs were favoured to provide the biggest challenge to Barcelona but found themselves undone in the decisive second legs by brilliant performances from the visitors. No players were more influential in these defeats than Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder. Robben’s stunning volley for Bayern at Old Trafford took the headlines, while in the previous round at Stamford Bridge, Wesley Sneijder had shown vision par excellence as he probed and prodded before finally finding the pass to eliminate Chelsea.

Needless to say, both players were deemed surplus to requirements at the Bernebeu.

Now football is littered with stories of former players going on to enjoy success. Sometimes in football things just don’t work out. However, in Real’s case it is hard to argue that this is mere misfortune, a case of players not settling. Something is rotten in the state of Madrid.

Perez’s solution? The latest whispers suggest he could be turning to Fabio Capello as the man to bring much needed glory to the Madridistas. Progress? They should know.. they’ve sacked him twice already.